November 7, 1963: Confederate Guerrillas Attack Unprotected Steamer

NOVEMBER 7, 1863:  Merchant  steamer Allen Collier, with cargo of cotton, was burned by Confederate guerrillas at Whitworth's Landing, Mississippi, after she left the protection of the USS Eastport, Acting Ensign Sylvester Pool.

The uneasy quiet on the river required constant gunboat protection.

--Old B-Runner

USS Marmora-- Part 4: Guerrilla Action.and Looking for Sterling

The USS Marmora participated in the  attack on Fort Hindman, Arkansas, 4 to 11 January 1863, when it was captured.  Located  80 miles up the Arkansas River it became an important post for Union efforts to control supplies coming to Vicksburg from the west.

In February 1963, the Marmora joined four other ships and Army troops in a new Yazoo River expedition and departed Helena  27 March.  They captured the CSS Fairplay (later the USS Fairplay) and destroyed newly constructed Confederate batteries 20 miles up the Yazoo.

For the next several months the Marmora did patrol duty and supply runs.  She also dealt with guerrilla activity.  In one instance, the Marmora stopped at Gaines' Landing 13-15 June to burn houses.  She then steamed up the White and Little Red rivers on 8 August, looking for information on Confederate General Sterling Price's army.

--Old B-Runner

Confederate Guerrillas Capture Steamer Idaho

JUNE 20TH, 1865:  Lt.Cmdr. John J. Cornwell of the USS Grossbeak reported the capture of the steamer Idaho a few days ago by Southern guerrillas near Greenville, Mississippi.  It was a small trading steamer and loaded with 400 bales of cotton which had belonged to the Confederacy.

--Old B-Runner

Steamer Harriet DeFord Seized by Confederate Guerrillas

APRIL 5TH, 1865:  The steamer Harriet DeFord was boarded and seized in Chesapeake Bay, 30 miles below Annapolis, Maryland by a party of 27 Confederate guerrillas led by Captain T. Fitzhugh.  A naval detachment under Lt.Cmdr. Edward Hooker was sent in pursuit and found the vessel trapped in Dimer's Creek, Virginia, burned to the water's edge.

A captive reported that a pilot had taken the steamer into the creek and that she went aground several times.  Some of the cargo was thrown overboard to lighten the ship and the remainder unloaded with the help of local farmers before the torch was put to it.

--Old B-Runner

Expedition Up the Waccamaw River, S.C.-- Part 1

MARCH 27TH, 1865:  Captain Stellwagen, the senior naval officer at Georgetown, South Carolina, reported to Rear Admiral Dahlgren "the return of another expedition of four days' duration up the Waccamaw River some 50 miles to Conwayboro."

Detailing the nature of the ceaseless naval expeditions in coastal and inland waters that facilitated the land campaign, Stellwagen continued:  "Having heard the threats of a visit in force had been made by the guerrillas against the plantations and settlements, in view of which great alarm was felt on the whole route by blacks and whites, I dispatched the Mingoe, having in tow some ten armed boats, to proceed as high as Buck's Mills, and leaving it discretionary with Lieutenant-Commanders G.U. Morris and William H. Dana to proceed the remaining distance by boats or land.

"The arrival of the steam launch and two large row launches from the Santee [River] enabled me to follow with them, and the steam tug Catalpa determined to ascend as far as the water would permit."

--Old B-Runner

Union Convoy Problems on the White River

JULY 27TH, 1864:  Col. Lewis B. Parsons, USA, Assistant Quartermaster and Chief of Western River Transportation, wrote Lt.Cmdr. Phelps, US Navy commander on the White River, about the unavailability of sufficient gunboats to convoy needed supply ships: "I am now in receipt of letters from three different officers, urgently enquiring if something can be done to prevent the detention of boats for convoys, in consequence of which, it is extremely difficult to send stores and supplies from Helena, Memphis, and other points....

"I have no doubt everything is being done in your power and consistent with your means, but considering the importance of the subject and the expenditure, is it not advisable to increase the means, so that convoys, if necessary, may be sent as boats arrive?

"If this can not be done, would it not do if two or three gunboats be stationed at different and dangerous points and boats be permitted to proceed without convoys?"

What Parsons was talking about was that supply ships were not allowed to proceed up the river without being in a convoy and protected by Union gunboats.  Often this meant waiting until several ships gathered and a warship found to escort them, causing delays.

Confederates were constantly harassing Union shipping along the western rivers.

--Old B-Runner

150 Years Ago-- April 1-3rd, 1864: Pesky Guerrillas

APRIL 1ST, 1864: During the last year of the war, bands of Confederate guerrillas continually attacked Union warships isolated on patrol duty, as well as commercial ships. This date, the Union Secretary of War passed a captured letter from Mallory along to Welles about these operations, who passed it along to Porter on the Mississippi.

APRIL 2ND, 1864: Union Gen. Banks continued with his Red River Campaign deployments. Union ships convoyed Gen. Smith's corps to Grand Ecore, Louisiana.

APRIL 3RD, 1864: The USS Sciota capturedschooner Mary Sorly attempting to run out of Galveston, Texas. It had precviously been the U.S. Revenue Cutter Dodge, seized by the Confederates in Galveston at the war's outbreak.

--Old B-R'er

The Mississippi Still Not Completely Safe: Union Steamer Mist Captured

OCTOBER 22ND, 1863

The Union steamer Mist was boarded and burned at Ship Island, Mississippi, by Confederate guerrillas when she attempted to take on a cargo of cotton without the protection of a Union gunboat.

**  A week later, Rear Admiral Porter wrote to Maj. Gen. W.T. Sherman, "Steamers should not be allowed to land anywhere but at a military port, or a place guarded by a gunboat...." So, even with the Mississippi River under Union control, it still wan't completely safe.

OCTOBER 23RD:

The USS Norfolk Packet captured schooner Ocean Bird off St. Augustine Inlet, Florida.

There's Confeds In Those Woods. --Old B-Runner

The Queen of the West-- Part 3

The Queen of the West also traded shots with the Confederate ironclad CSS Arkansas.  On October, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles reorganized the Western Flotilla, naming it the Mississippi Squadron under the command of David Dixon Porter.

In November, the ram fleet was transferred to the Navy from the Army by Lincoln (which would explain why a colonel would be commanding a warship).  But the rams more or less continued to operate independently of the Navy control.

Early in 1863, Porter formed the Mississippi Marine Brigade intended to fight Confederate guerrillas who were a major problem.  It  consisted of 350 men under Army command, artillery and cavalry.  They were ferried by the rams which were under Navy command.  But the officers remained Army. 

Charles Ellet's brother, Alfred was appointed brigadier general and placed in command of the brigade.  Charles Rivers Ellet, his nephew, was placed in command of the Queen of the West.

Old B-Runner